Zoot Suit takes place in Los Angeles, which was a major center of Hispanic theatre in the 19th century. Much of the issues present in the play were synonymous with the issues Hispanic Americans faced at the time. This includes offensive ethnic stereotypes as well as discrimination at the hands of the law. These issues were present among many of the plays performed during the 1920’s as well. The events of play are based off the Zoot Suits riots, which centered around Hispanic Americans wearing “unpatriotic” zoot suits during World War II. This play helped people understand the difficulties Hispanic Americans were facing at the time, as the 38th Street Gang were being accused of a crime they did not commit. From a historic standpoint, the play is said to have “nurtured their cultural tradition” more and “raise a Mexican American self-consciousness”. It helped Mexican-Americans find more courage and give themselves a voice in not just Mexican theatre but as an ethnic group in the United States. This play as a result had a very major impact on Chicano theatre history. It is unfortunate that an ethnic group that has been in this country for generations had to endure such adversity.